Cardboard tents

Hello.

I am doing a thesis project on a product that would help in times of natural disasters and have come up with a design for a origami-like tent made of larg sheets of cardboard. It could be wax board or polyester-inpregnated cardboard to be waterproof. The main question is:

Whats the biggest sheets of cardboard commonly used? From what I know, the biggest cardboard boxes commonly used are for refridgeraters and are 60" x 30" x 30".

Anybody know of a bigger size or a more common size?

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Might I suggest you contact a cardboard manufacturer. I'm sure they don't manufacture in the needed box sizes but in large sheet that need to be cut and glued into boxes. They may even be willing to give you some help if there is a possibility that it may increase need.

FWIW dept: We have a corrugated paperboard company here. I have not worked in the plant, but have toured the plant on a local exchange program where Engineers and Maintenance Tech's visit other plants to see the operations. I do know that this company makes the corrugated paperboard in eight (8) foot wide sheets and is rolled onto some very, did I say very, large spools. These spools are then shipped out to customers for custom cutting of their products. I don't know what these spools weigh, but only four (4) of them go into a trailer truck. Think about this: you never know what is in one of those trailer trucks going down a highway do you? Good Luck on your project, it does sound interesting. David

due to the project at hand, I would think corrugated cardboard would take up too much space. Single layer cardboard would take less space when packed and using the OP's idea of an origami inspired design, one would use creases to gain rigidity and strength just like the same way auto manufacturers, or actually any sheetmetal user incorporates creases and such as a means to impart rigidity to a large piece of sheet metal.

simple creases such as those used in HVAC ductwork would most likely not be effective but actual folds would and if designed well, could allow a poster board type cardboard to be made into a box with minimal structural supports and still have enough strength to be used for the intended purpose.

FWIW dept: We have a corrugated paperboard company here. I have not worked in the plant, but have toured the plant on a local exchange program where Engineers and Maintenance Tech's visit other plants to see the operations. I do know that this company makes the corrugated paperboard in eight (8) foot wide sheets and is rolled onto some very, did I say very, large spools. These spools are then shipped out to customers for custom cutting of their products. I don't know what these spools weigh, but only four (4) of them go into a trailer truck. Think about this: you never know what is in one of those trailer trucks going down a highway do you? Good Luck on your project, it does sound interesting. David

It there a way I could at least get the company name or their website?

Thermo-Ply?

When I was I kid a local paper manufacturing company made a product sold as "Thermo-Ply". Basically single layer cardboard, maybe 1/8-inch thick, with an aluminum foil skim on both sides. Later they modified the product to have one layer covered with a neutral appearing wallpaper type surface.

Popular for temporary storm damage repairs and finishing the inside of fishing shanties and the like.